Chiefs Top 10 Position Groups – Yes, the title is misleading, the Kansas City Chiefs only have 10 position groups, but at least no one group gets left out here. While I’m ranking them myself, that is also too much reliance upon one man’s opinion. So, I’ll depend upon readers for their opinions as well.
Special Teams
This is the one position with very little glory, but if they’re bad then they are the scapegoats (Lin Elliott probably would not be remembered if not for 3 missed field goals). Having the top special teams coach (arguably) in the league with Dave Toub gives the Chiefs calmness amongst the coronavirus storm. But there is still some concern at this position. Yes Harrison Butker is a top ranked kicker, but he will have a, new to the duties, and a rookie placeholder/punter in Tommy Townsend. The abnormal off season and somewhat challenging training camp will make it interesting for Toub to get all the players that he needs into the right places. The special teams units across the whole league will be the most difficult job for all teams amid the covid pandemic. Limited social distancing, no off season practices, no pre-season games, and reduced roster squads, makes it hard to see players perform the needed time to evaluate. This position group is not necessarily the weakest to start the season, but it will likely be the least quality time, practiced unit. Will most likely be adjusted throughout the year. Knowing Dave Toub as we do, they will be top grade by the end of the season.
Linebackers
The advantage that this group has is Matt House. Matt is one of the best LB coaches in the league, so much so that I expect to see the LBs over perform every year. Anthony Hitchens (Mike LB) will still be the leader here, calls the defense and gets the front portion of the defense in right place to stop, or slow down the opponent. Damien Wilson (Sam LB) should still start the season in most 2 LB sets. Willie Gay (Rookie) we presume, will be the 3rd LB, when needed and playing the Will LB position. The ceiling on Willie is extremely high, maybe produce RDOY type of season. However, don’t expect huge results at the start of the year. He will need time to get acclimated to the speed of the NFL, and he will need time to learn the Spagnuolo Defense. Matt will bring him along quickly. Ben Niemann had quality playing time last year, showing adequate coverage ability. Ben is a bit small for a stout run stopper, but the more he plays he could developed into a serviceable role player. Spags loves them type all over his defense. Dorian O’Daniel needs to prove his worth this year at more than just a special teams player. Darius Harris has potential that we have yet to see, because he was on injury status last year.
Offensive Lineman
What was once an off season acquisitions team strength, has now turned into some question marks; namely interior positions. Andy Heck is well qualified to deal with all problems that could arise. Covid conditions and the opt out agreement eliminated two key players: 1 for sure a starter — LDT — and then a rookie prospect in Lucas Niang, that the Coaches had hoped would develop into a starter in the near future. The Chiefs bookends are set, Eric Fisher is the All-Pro Left Tackle, Mitchell Schwartz is the best Right Tackle in the NFL. We need injury liability depth at both spots, Niang was a candidate for those two spots. Mike Remmers and Martinas Rankin, once he is able, and off the off PUP list, will compete to play Tackles or Guard.
Austin Reiter is penciled in as the starting Center, Nick Allegretti as his backup. Kelechi Osemele, recently signed as a free agent, is with the #1 unit in training camps so far at Left Guard. Andrew Wylie appears to be the front runner at Right Guard. Greg Senat, Yasir Durant, Ryan Hunter, and Darryl Williams will compete to fill out the interior positions. I expect the Chiefs to start the regular season with 9-to-10 Offensive Linemen. I’m not sure if the NFL has set the opening day roster amount yet. Any of these three interior OL positions could change during training camp, or at any time during this season. Although, Reid likes to stick with a man once he is the starter, the pandemic may alter that approach.
Cornerbacks
At first glance, many fans and media think the Chiefs don’t have much strength or depth in this group, when in reality they just don’t have any high profile household names here. Sam Madison is a well qualified CB Coach and I believe his unit over performed there expectations last year. Charvarius Ward, even with his bad eyesight (had off season lasik surgery), was the #3 ranked CB in advanced analytics.
Ward has vowed in training camp that he wants to become a shutdown corner. Sam Madison was quoted in press conference Thursday offered here by Ed Easton Jr. at USAToday:
“Understanding his strengths and his weaknesses, and he was able to display it. He was able to take criticism of it when he wasn’t doing good and when he was doing great, he was able to continue to fight through the high points when he was getting the praise. Now he’s got to put it all together.”
Bashaud Breeland would be the other starter at CB if not suspended the first 4 games of the year. He could be suspended for more games once the NFL rules on his April troubles with the law in South Carolina. Rashard Fenton will most likely start as the 2nd CB, based on his development from last year’s play time. The remaining positions on final regular season roster will come from Chris Lammons, Alex Brown, Antonio Hamilton, Michael Hunter, and two rookies in: L’Jarius Sneed and Bopete Keyes. As I said earlier, expect this position group to perform better than than predicted by many.
Safeties
Tyrann Mathieu is most definitely the defensive leader, quarterback per say of the defense. He is good at all the different techniques of the defensive backfield, and he is the best player in the league if you factor in the ability to be able to move all over. Also he has been in the league for long enough, and watched enough film, and his high football IQ puts him in the right place a high percentage of the time. The icing on the cake with him is that he makes plays all over the field, both in the run and passing game. Juan Thornhill is the perfect player to be an understudy to the Honey Badger and the two of them compliment each other with there play. Juan is a fast safety with deep part of the field coverage abilities, and possesses good ball skills. He showed valued skills and playmaking abilities last year, until week 17 when he got injured. Daniel Sorensen and Kendall Fuller filled in for him quite well. Fuller returned to Washington as a free agent. The Chiefs signed Tedric Thompson a couple of weeks ago, he is a 4th year player with the potential to be an adequate role player. Armani Watts must show more potential this year to remain with the team. Rodney Clemons is a dark horse that must show some potential also.
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in the league, and I’m not here to argue if he is better than George Kittles, Zach Ertz or Mark Andrews or any one else. I just know that with the Chiefs he has had 1000+ receiving yards for 4 straight years and no one else has done that. Ever. Plus, Patrick and Travis are telepathically connected better than anyone else in the game. Mahomes has repeatedly shown that he knows which way that Travis will cut, and throws the ball, before Kelce himself knows which way he will cut. Travis also has the knack for running to the open spot when Patrick is scrambling.
Ricky Seals-Jones was signed during the off season as a free agent, he is in his 4th year in the league. He was signed by Arizona as an UDFA, played 2 years with the Cardinals, then 1 year with Cleveland Browns. Has not shown great numbers, but yet enough production to warrant a 1-year prove it contract, that Brett Veach has had a high degree of success with numerous players over his time as GM. Deon Yelder showed good blocking skills and enough receiving skills to remain on the roster another year. Keeping all Chiefs players healthy this year is of utmost importance, but no one on the roster means more to #runitback quest than Travis does… other than MVPat!
Running Backs
Damien William’s opting out for family related issues, set this group back, but Clyde Edwards-Helaire positive potential keeps them a top 10 position group in the league. Key word here potential if CEH is as good as advertised, predicted to be, and/or is as NFL ready as his college highlight reel has shown.
Then the Chiefs will be nearly impossible to stop. DeAndre Washington, Darrel Williams, and Darwin Thompson will all compete in training camp and throughout the year for backup duties. I believe the success of CEH is the make or break of this unit. Anthony Sherman will still do what the Sausage does.
Defensive Lineman
Frank Clark disclosed on Thursday that Chris Jones and himself had discussed being the best of Duos of all time, that is mighty lofty goals. I welcome that status for them, as it would most assuredly further lead to the Dynasty that we all want to see in KC. So, I expect to see them both compete for DPOY in 2020, somewhere in the neighborhood of a race to 20 sacks apiece. It’s a nice Goal!
Brandon Daly is one of the best DL coaches in the league and has 5 SB rings to show for it. Besides the Sacknation Duo, this group has other quality pieces that help the entire defense work as a well oiled unit. Can’t be certain as to any individual player as a sure fire starter here. Spags like to use multiple players as different situations arise. Alex Okafor, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, Khalen Saunders are all the proven role players from last year. They must continue to show up and even get better will help there longevity on this unit. Taco Charlton, free agent signed in off season: Demone Harris, Tim Ward, Devaroe Lawrence, Tershawn Wharton, and Breeland Speaks will all vie for a chance as a role player. I expect the trenches to have the most competitive practices in training camp… with whatever social distancing and the bargaining agreement allows for close contact.
Wide Receivers
Yes, the Legion of Zoom is the best WR unit in the league. I don’t see a need to even argue the point, nothing to gain by doing so. The Fastest Four for sure with: Tyreek-Sammy-Mecole-Demarcus, and Byron Pringle is no slouch either. They all work really well together, none other as well assembled chemistry bonded unit in the league. Plus, we know Patrick’s favorite saying “Don’t ever stop running.” They also know to find the open spot in the defense. The Fastest Four will blind you... and Mahomes Magic will find you. Especially when Patrick is in scramble mode. If they have not beaten you by the 4th quarter, you are certainly tired of chasing them, and because of this depth, they are still fresh enough to turn on the afterburners.
Quarterbacks
Yep, saved the best for last! What makes them best? #1… Talent: Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in all of football right now. Someday maybe the best ever, but let’s stay with the current point in time. Not many smart people will argue with the best in league right now. He is so talented in so many different ways, that it’s hard to find a fault. If you do find a fault… he also already knows it… and is working to clean it up. Also he is still young, and it’s all too well known that experience makes QBs better. That’s a scary proposition for 31 other teams.
Importance of #2
On most any team QB is of high value, and we’ve seen that 1st and foremost here last year. When PM had his high ankle sprain early in the year, there were times in games that it hindered him more than other times. Yes, of course it affected his performance, but he was still competing, just not always at his 2018 level. When the dislocated kneecap happened and he didn’t finish Denver game, and was out for Green Bay and Minnesota games, we saw how valuable and important that it was to have a quality backup QB. Matt Moore was a surprise find, but he did what is expected from a backup QB, and it did it very well indeed. So well in fact, that he was resigned to be a backup this year. Chad Henne is still here and when healthy he is a well qualified QB. With the Covid pandemic still present in the U.S. we dont know what to expect from this year. Who is #2 or #3 is really irrelevant. I suppose the definite position will be decided in camp, maybe it’s already set. Having 3 well qualified QBs could prove to be very vital to another run to the Super Bowl.
“The Time’s Yours”… That’s How We Roll
What it all comes down to is Chemistry 101. Every acknowledged Dynasty had long-term chemistry! The K.C. Chiefs have the best chemistry in the league. Some like to argue that they have better or equal talent. No one can argue that they have better team chemistry! Let the discussions and/or debates begin. These position groups were not originally offered in any specific order. That being said, I welcome and anticipate everyone’s thoughts.
Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne
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